REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Director General of Agricultural Infrastructure and Facilities in Ministry of Agriculture, Gatot Irianto said foreign investors had a chance to develop food estate project, a program to develop food security in Indonesia. However, government still prioritizes local investors or state owned enterprises (SOEs).

"There are opportunities for foreign investors, but we still prioritize our SOEs," Irianto said on Tuesday.

Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) project is entering mapping customary land phase and also trial phase of environmental impact assessment. Provincial government of Papua now proceeds with the project's license. 

Food estate program is also held in other regions, including East Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan. Solaria restaurant chain company as an investor is now able to harvest soybean, rice and fresh fishes in Delta Kayan Food Estate project in Bulungan Regency, East Kalimantan. PT Miwon Indonesia, a food flavoring company, also invests in corn field in same region.

Former Minister of Agriculture, Anton Apriyantono said proper policy could encourage foreign investors to increase national food supply. Government can seek investors' commitment to build infrastructures, such as roads and irrigation canals.

"No much land left in Java now, so foreign investors are better to work on agricultural land outside Java," Apriyantono said. 

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